skyewelse ([info]skyewelse) wrote in [info]doukutsu,
@ 2006-03-27 09:59:00
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Current mood: cheerful
Current music:Stravinsky - Firebird_Suite_1919

Cave Story is being published by Variant Games
Variant Games recently purchased the rights to Cave Story. They plan to release the game via the handheld markets in both an "updated version" in terms of graphics and sound as well as an original version. So far the plan is to develop it for the Sony PSP, however the Nintendo DS is also a possibility if there are enough fans to contribute the idea to Nintendo in showing them that Cave Story has a big enough following. There seems to be a lot of debate regarding this purchase, as before Cave Story was simply a popular freeware game and now it is being published.

I think before anyone makes a negative statement regarding this, they should at least reserve judgement until they read the following forum post from Variant Game's CEO at their website:

http://variantinteractive.com/forums/index.php?topic=25

Personally I think this is great news and I could not be happier for Pixel having one of his games published and for Cave Story being told through the handheld markets. This is an exciting time for Cave Story fans!

-SkyeWelse


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[info]jeanlucpikachu
2006-03-27 03:15 pm UTC (link)
We can still d/l it from the website, right?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2006-03-27 04:11 pm UTC (link)
doubtful that pixel would ever allow that to happena and once it's been free, you can't put it back in the box.

however I personally am excited at the chance of seeing the game on gameboy advance, screw DS, just release a plain vanilla port, venture!

SCREW PSP! Why the fscking hell would you need it on a UMD anyway?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]sonictail, 2006-03-27 04:18 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]rosceau, 2006-03-27 04:30 pm UTC
"You can't put it back in the box"? - (Anonymous), 2006-03-28 09:30 am UTC

[info]creepyg0
2006-03-27 03:28 pm UTC (link)
HELL YES.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]afree87
2006-03-27 05:50 pm UTC (link)
ｷﾀ━━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━━━ !!!!!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]ravenworks
2006-03-27 03:28 pm UTC (link)
But... like... aaagh... Pixel was just about to give me the rights to develop a homebrew version for GBA... x_x;;

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]rosceau
2006-03-27 04:15 pm UTC (link)
I'm sure as long as the PC version remains free, your GBA port should be safe. Though if you start burning it to carts and selling it, Variant might take issue with that...

I'd LOVE to see a GP32 or GP2X port, personally, but that's really for me to do (if I ever get off my backside and bug Pixel for the source)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]ravenworks, 2006-03-27 04:21 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]skyewelse, 2006-03-27 09:55 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ravenworks, 2006-03-27 10:11 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]rosceau, 2006-03-28 02:59 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ravenworks, 2006-03-28 03:02 am UTC

[info]the_lizard_rat
2006-03-27 05:04 pm UTC (link)
Am I the only one who doesn't like the sound of this for some reason?

Eh, lone voice in a crowd I suppose, but I tend to trust my gut and my gut is saying HELL NO.

Lizard Rat out.
Rebel Deviant in Albany NY

(Reply to this)


[info]foxhack
2006-03-27 05:10 pm UTC (link)
I can't help but feel that they're going to fuck this up BIGTIME. Just from reading the story on the main CS page I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

(And am I the only one that hates that cover art?)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]foxhack
2006-03-27 05:57 pm UTC (link)
http://donut.parodius.com/agtp/messages/10253.html

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]afree87, 2006-03-27 06:19 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]foxhack, 2006-03-27 06:32 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]variant_mav, 2006-03-27 07:01 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2006-03-27 07:27 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I dont like the cover art very much either. Maybe an unrealistic hope, but it would be great to have some authentic Pixel art for the box art =0 Or at least something that looks more professional...and anatomically correct =\

as for the rights to the game being purchased, I am cautiously optimistic. While the prior experience of the various members in the company is noted, the company as an entity has very little track record. Just my thoughts.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]pand4
2006-03-27 06:30 pm UTC (link)
Woah.

(Reply to this)


(Anonymous)
2006-03-27 07:26 pm UTC (link)
I wish I knew japanese so I could go congratulate him.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nonagon
2006-03-27 08:13 pm UTC (link)
You could try "ganbatte yo" but I'm not wholly sure if that'd be wholly... on. I have an issue with Japanese formality and I may be inaccurate. So it'd be like, "handheld no dokutsu monogatari dewa ganbatte yo!"

That'd be my best guess.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]skyewelse, 2006-03-27 09:03 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-27 09:08 pm UTC

[info]bebiend
2006-03-27 08:30 pm UTC (link)
I'll go with the majority voice and say that this has a good chance to turn out pretty awesome... as long as they don't screw up the game in its translation to a smaller platform.

(Reply to this)


[info]butanerosan
2006-03-27 09:02 pm UTC (link)
Let's harass Nintendo for a DS version!

Because I don't want to see an awesome game wasted on a shitty system with a very fragile screen.

Touch! Doukutsu Monogatari? Hell yeah. It could even have a free-aim system with the stylus. Or minigames.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]acoustictype
2006-03-27 09:30 pm UTC (link)
i agree with this. this belongs on a nintendo system.

i've already sent them an email.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]mystshadow20xx
2006-03-27 09:34 pm UTC (link)
YES.

God yes this is the best idea since Johnsonville Smoke Bratwurst.

And that was genius on its own. I LOVE Doukutsu Monogatari. And we can have Balrog scream "HUZZAH!" in hi-def stereo glory! <3

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nonagon
2006-03-27 10:08 pm UTC (link)
I loves me some Johnsonvilles. And I loves me some Cave Story. What a great analogy. =)

How SHOULD Balrog sound though? I kind of imagine him with kind of a deep, goon-y kind of voice. Like in the old Warner Bros. cartoons with the big sasquatch/sheepdog/whatever who's all like "AND I WILL HUG HIM AND PET HIM AND LOVE HIM AND SQUEEZE HIM AND CALL HIM GEOOOOORGE..." kind of thing, but with the "Durrr" kind of mental deficiency - just that kind of voice. Know what I mean? That's how I always hear him in my head, anyway.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]incardine
2006-03-27 10:08 pm UTC (link)
I'm not a fan of Johnsonville's Smoked Brats. Alaska Sausage Company bratwurst forever >O

Back on track :O If this is truly confirmed, I honestly think this could work excellently - Doukutsu used exactly six buttons - A B L R Start Select - and the D-Pad, so it's set to work well enough on either the PSP or the DS.

The PSP's capabilities (pah) are enough to probably give some pretty awesome graphics and sound upgrades, but I'm more interested in how they could integrate the touch screen of the DS into play - though they'll have to remake several fights if they allow free aiming with it - I can think of at least three fights that would make pathetically easy on the "Revolver Ocelot in Twin Snakes" vein I sent my note to Nintendo.

Variant IS a valid publisher (Jets 'n' Guns has been in (re)development for a while, but is freakin' awesome), so I'm pretty damn sure they wouldn't make the statement about a portable version of Cave Story without being able to back it up.

Also, isn't that Alpha's fanart of the game? ... They can probably find a better final pick, I agree, though I'm not sure one of Pixel's own works is quite an optimal pick. Maybe, though.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]nonagon
2006-03-27 10:14 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, it says in that thread that it's Alpha's artwork. I guess they really liked it and asked Alpha if they could use it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-27 10:14 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]incardine, 2006-03-28 01:40 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-28 01:54 am UTC
Er... - (Anonymous), 2006-03-28 09:50 am UTC

[info]lemshadra
2006-03-27 10:28 pm UTC (link)
Half for the project, half against it. I kinda like the game with a smaller community (it keeps the retards out), but at the same time, more people should get to play it because It's Just That Good.

As for the coverart, I always liked that pic in its own way (save wonkiness on the shading, and style/detail inconsistency from character to character), but I'd always thought 'official' art would be drawn in a much cuter style, more similar to Pixel's original work, instead of trying to 'serious-ize' the proportions and stuff.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ravenworks
2006-03-27 10:49 pm UTC (link)
Serious sells, sadly :/ The question of how on earth to market Cave Story to a jaded/tasteless population of 'modern' gamers was always something I'd wondered about... Giving it a 'dark' edge might be the only way to easily market it. On the other hand, that'd just mean selling it to people who might not be happy with what they wind up getting, and it would mean missing out on the people who really would appreciate the style of the original..

Maybe there should be a cover art poll in the Variant forums? Who better to know what the target audience would like then some of the alread-converted target audience? ;)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]stupidoptimist, 2006-03-27 11:24 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ex_kennard402, 2006-03-28 05:52 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ceceil_felias, 2006-03-28 08:38 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]lemshadra, 2006-03-28 09:01 am UTC

[info]fwugradiation
2006-03-28 12:04 am UTC (link)
Ahhhhhh, now I have to get a PSP, I guess. I want a DS, and I don't have one... looks like I'm going to have to waste a lot of money on awesome.

If I can make a suggestion, add like a secret boss or at least a little bit of acknowledgement for finishing the game with 3HP, like "Wow, you've been playing a while... don't you think you should take a break?" That would be radical.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2006-03-28 12:33 am UTC (link)
I would rather play it on DS, but this could be the deciding factor in me getting a PSP.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-28 01:14 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]fwugradiation, 2006-03-28 01:25 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-28 01:54 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]sanguinolent, 2006-03-28 01:36 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]nonagon, 2006-03-28 01:57 am UTC

(Deleted post)
Re: *rubs chin*
[info]afree87
2006-03-28 02:36 am UTC (link)
I would be suprised if Pixel did give some sort of explanation on his website. It would be out of character.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]ex_kennard402, 2006-03-28 05:56 am UTC

(Deleted post)
Re: *rubs chin* - [info]ceceil_felias, 2006-03-28 08:22 am UTC

(Deleted post)
Re: *rubs chin* - [info]ceceil_felias, 2006-03-29 03:47 am UTC

[info]ceceil_felias
2006-03-28 08:43 am UTC (link)
Wow, I'm very surprised. Of course I also think this is totally awesome. :D

Now I need a PSP. Or maybe I could join in with the begging for a DS version (though I think a free-aim system would ruin Cave Story -- menu/map for the lower screen, maybe?).

(Reply to this)


[info]rosceau
2006-03-28 09:17 am UTC (link)
Points raised in discussion with a few friends:

There's talk going around saying that Variant and Pixel have had a misunderstanding. While I DON'T believe Variant tried to steal his code, it's all too believable that he agreed to the project because he thought it would be a freeware release (no profit to him, no profit to Variant), when they were actually trying to secure rights to port, expand and sell Cave Story, with all proper royalties going to Pixel.

The other issue mentioned is Variant's lack of a pedigree: again, this is nothing to do with their intentions, but many people might view their lack of completed releases as a major block.

Likewise, their professed aversion to lawyers and such matters seems as if it could be problematic in a situation such as this, where the production credits are split between the game's developer and the team that produced the English translation, all of whom worked for free.

Outlook...
Cautiously optimistic.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]rosceau
2006-03-28 09:29 am UTC (link)
To clarify (and give Mav something to respond to):

Is there anything to this rumour of a misunderstanding? If so, is Pixel adamant in keeping his game totally non-commercial?

I understand Variant has several experienced developers, but does it have the kind of backing required to see its projects to completion?

And finally, does Variant have the legal expertise to draft binding contracts regarding distribution of revenues to non-Variant staff who had a hand in the production of Cave Story and its English translation?

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tursi
2006-03-29 05:25 am UTC (link)
Nice.. looking forward to seeing how it comes out. I've wanted it in handheld form for a long time. :)

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